South Dakota
Lessons beyond the blackboard: How a tiny school built big futures for a rural community
PIERRE, S.D. — Old one-room schoolhouses played a fundamental role in bringing education to children in rural communities for generations.
Though the walls of this classroom north of Pierre are crumbling, the memories remain in the minds of those who spent years learning in them.
Jim Schumacher attended first through eighth grades at the Plainview School. His family built the schoolhouse in the 1920s, and it functioned as a school until the mid- to late 1980s. It is located 15 miles north of Pierre, in the Peoria Township area.
“It was built by my grandfather and his dad, and my father was probably one of the first classes that came here,” Schumacher said. “There was a school before that — that was a little further west down the road — and once the county came in and actually built roads, they moved it over here.”
Judy McLaughlin
Before the Oahe Dam was built, the Peoria township had two schoolhouses, one of which was located in the river bottom. Once the dam was built, that area was flooded.
“This [Plainview] was the only school left, and frankly, at that point, there weren’t that many families left,” Schumacher said. “There’s been some more that have moved in since that, but at the time, I think probably five or six kids at the time was probably the most that we had while I was here, for the most part.”
Courtesy / Judy McLaughlin
Students could attend kindergarten through the eighth grade at Plainview, and then they would go to Pierre for high school. There was one teacher and one classroom for all grades. But that didn’t mean they had any less of an education.
“When I got to the eighth grade, there was three of us in eighth grade, and when we went into town, we all made the honor roll,” Schumacher said. “You didn’t miss out on anything by being here.”
Ariana Schumacher / Agweek
“You were absorbing what was going on in the other classes as well,” said Colleen McCurrin, who attended Plainview from kindergarten through sixth grade. “You did tend to, you know, hear the other things that were going on, and when your particular homework was done, you might turn around and help some of the younger kids in the younger classes.”
Ariana Schumacher / Agweek
Mark Venner moved to the area when he was in third grade from Agar, South Dakota. While the Agar school was small, transferring to Plainview was still a big adjustment.
“I was overwhelmed,” Venner said. “The Agar school wasn’t very big, as you know, and I walked to school there. I just walked down the alley, and I was there. Here we drove 6 miles to school.”
Courtesy / Mark Venner
Venner was in the same grade as Schumacher. There were only two other students there at the time: Schumacher’s sister Judy and his aunt Marcia.
The school was small, and it had no plumbing or running water. There was a small sink with a pump to bring water into the building, with a cistern that took water off the roof. Students would also haul in water in 5-gallon containers.
Finding teachers willing to drive out of town and work in a rustic schoolhouse could be a challenge, but they were still able to find quality educators for the school.
Courtesy / Judy McLaughlin
One in particular, Miss Linstedt, was an inspiration to the students she taught at Plainview. Her family lived about 60 miles from the school, so she lived in the classroom during the week and went home on the weekends. She sectioned off a small corner of the room with a sheet, set up a cot, and had a hot plate to cook on.
“There’s probably not a whole lot of teachers that you could get to do that anymore,” Schumacher said. “I’m surprised, frankly, that we had the quality of teachers that we did.”
“That was pretty awesome to me that the teacher lived in the school. I’ll never forget that,” Venner said.
Courtesy / Charlene Schumacher
In the winters, recess would be moved to the school’s basement, where there was a coal furnace. There was a grate that brought the heat upstairs to the classroom.
“We would all gather around that grate with our feet, sitting in our desks with our feet over the grate, especially on Monday mornings, because it was cold,” Venner said.
“In the later years, they put in forced air and had an actual heating system,” Schumacher said. “We always had electricity, but other than that, there wasn’t a whole lot for amenities.”
During that time, there was no internet, but there was a radio that was used as a learning tool in the Plainview classroom.
“There were radio programs that we could get that would teach like once a week. We learned German one year,” Schumacher said.
Christmas parties were always a big deal at the school.
“We always had a Christmas program. I tell people one reason I’m not afraid to get up and speak is because there weren’t enough kids that anybody got by being a plant or an animal; everybody had a speaking part,” Schumacher said.
Courtesy / Charlene Schumacher
While they may not have had access to all the things the bigger public schools had, there were also perks to having a smaller school.
“I’m sure we missed out on some of the machinery that some of the bigger schools had, but we also missed out on a lot of the politics that I have learned since my own children have gone to school. There’s a lot of things we didn’t miss at all,” Schumacher said. “It was definitely a good start.”
“I got straight A’s after my freshman year,” Venner said. “Country school is the foundation.”
Courtesy / Colleen McCurrin
Lifelong friendships were formed at that small country school on the prairie.
“My lifelong friend Theresa is still one of my best memories,” McCurrin said. “You spent more time together, and you also had, you know, again, the rural community, you had that in common as well as just being … classmates. Theresa and I have stayed together through thick and thin all the way through high school, and I get to see her here in a couple of weeks.”
Courtesy / Colleen McCurrin
Schumacher and Venner have also remained close friends.
“He was in my wedding, and I was not home when he got married to Charlene, so I didn’t make the wedding,” Venner said. “But, you know, we’ve stayed in touch.”
Several Plainview students moved away from the area, but for Schumacher, McCurrin and Venner, the Peoria Township area is still their home.
Since graduating from high school in Pierre, Schumacher has remained on the family farm, where he and his wife raised their two children and now have several grandchildren.
“I’ve lived within one mile of where I started my entire life,” Schumacher said.
McCurrin stayed in the area and worked, was very involved with
FFA
, and was able to do some work experience abroad with FFA.
Venner went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in ag engineering and master’s degree in education, and taught high school math in Rapid City for a while. He moved to Florida to continue to work for the Air Force and earned another master’s degree in industrial engineering before returning to the family’s organic farming operation.
Courtesy / Judy McLaughlin
But no matter where they ended up in life, these Plainview students credit their country school for being the foundation of their education.
“That shaped me, it really did. It turned me into a fighter,” Venner said.
Editor’s note: This is part of a series of articles on one-room schoolhouses: their history and their
present status
in rural communities. In this installment, Ariana Schumacher recounts the history of Plainview School, which her family members, including her uncle, Jim Schumacher, who is quoted in the story, attended. If you have a story about attending a one-room schoolhouse or about current uses of former one-room schoolhouses, email it to jschlecht@agweek.com for possible inclusion in a future issue of Agweek.
(SOUTH DAKOTA SEARCHLIGHT) – Democrats are running for 46 of South Dakota’s 105 legislative seats — leaving 56% of seats without a Democratic candidate.
That doesn’t bode well for the party ahead of November, said Michael Card, professor emeritus of political science at the University of South Dakota.
“It doesn’t put them in a position to actually put forward their ideological policy preferences and have much of a success at getting those enacted,” Card said.
In the state Senate alone, Democrats have failed to field a candidate for 22 seats, which is nearly two-thirds of the chamber. In the House, Democrats have failed to field a candidate for 38 seats, which is 54% of the chamber.
There is only one Democratic legislative primary in the state: a state Senate race in District 26, which includes the Rosebud Reservation.
There are no statewide Democratic primaries, after announced candidates for governor and U.S. House dropped out or failed to gather enough petition signatures to make the ballot, leaving one Democrat in each of those races.
Statewide candidates will have less name recognition than Republican candidates ahead of the general election, since they didn’t have primaries, Card said. In the Legislature, Card said Democrats “are guaranteeing they won’t get a majority.”
In contrast, Republicans have primary races for governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Five legislative districts do not have Republican primaries, but do have Republican candidates. There is a Republican candidate running for every legislative seat, except for one House seat in District 27, which includes the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Card said there are several factors leading to poor candidate turnout among Democrats, including a self-fulfilling cycle of failure.
“A lack of winning makes fewer people willing to take a chance on running for office,” Card said. “Why run if I think I’m going to lose?”
Democrats haven’t held a statewide office since 2015, and they haven’t held a majority of either legislative chamber since 1994.
Joe Zweifel, deputy executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party, said the organization worked “really, really hard” to convince Democrats to run for office.
“But you can’t force people to run for office,” said Zweifel, of Sioux Falls, who’s running for a legislative seat himself in District 12.
He’s heard the open seats called a “failure.” But he disagrees, choosing to focus on the Democrats who did step forward.
“We’re running quality, good candidates in those races,” Zweifel said.
The South Dakota Democratic Party hopes to build on legislative successes, such as a new law from Rep. Kadyn Wittman, D-Sioux Falls, that commits state funding to cover the family portion of reduced-price school meals.
“That specifically is a return on investment for our donors, and it shows that Democrats are doing good things for the people of South Dakota,” Zweifel said.
Wittman’s success helped inspire Democratic District 13 House of Representatives candidate Ali Rae Horsted, of Sioux Falls, to take a second run at the Legislature. Horsted ran unsuccessfully for the Senate against Sen. Sue Peterson in 2024, garnering 42% of the vote.
Horsted plans to build on that success and the name recognition she already has in the district. She hopes she’ll have “better odds” in this election, since there are two House seats for every district.
Horsted said it would better serve South Dakota if the state had a more balanced Legislature. While the latest Legislature was 92% Republican, 52% of voters in South Dakota are Republican. South Dakota has the lowest percentage of Democrats, 7.6%, in the Legislature nationwide.
“I think it’s important that people have options on the ballot,” Horsted said, “and people are able to vote for candidates that represent their values and their vision for the future of South Dakota.”
Makenzie Huber is a lifelong South Dakotan who regularly reports on the intersection of politics and policy with health, education, social services and Indigenous affairs. Her work with South Dakota Searchlight earned her the title of South Dakota’s Outstanding Young Journalist in 2024, and she was a 2024 finalist for the national Livingston Awards.
South Dakota Searchlight is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
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From East River to West River, South Dakota communities share a common goal: creating places where people of all ages can live, work and thrive. AARP’s Domains of Livability provide a framework to help communities do just that. Through the AARP Community Challenge grant program—designed to spark quick, impactful local projects—South Dakota communities are turning big ideas into visible, people-centered improvements.
Read the South Dakota Community Challenge Grant Report, which showcases grant-funded projects across the state designed to build more livable communities.
What Are AARP’s Domains of Livability?
AARP’s approach to livable communities is rooted in eight interconnected domains that together support quality of life at every age:
- Outdoor Spaces and Buildings – Safe, accessible parks, streets and public buildings
- Transportation – Affordable, accessible options for getting around
- Housing – A range of choices that support independence
- Social Participation – Opportunities to connect, learn and have fun
- Respect and Social Inclusion – Communities that value people of all backgrounds and ages
- Civic Participation and Employment – Meaningful ways to engage and contribute
- Communication and Information – Clear, accessible ways to stay informed
- Community Support and Health Services – Access to services that support well-being
These domains work best when addressed together—something South Dakota communities are embracing.
Turning Vision into Action with Community Challenge Grants
AARP Community Challenge grants fund short-term, “quick-action” projects that can ignite long-term change. Across South Dakota, these grants have helped communities pilot ideas, build momentum and demonstrate what’s possible when residents put people first.
Here’s how local projects are bringing the Domains of Livability to life:
- Outdoor Spaces and Buildings: Communities have used grants to enhance parks, create pop-up public spaces, add benches and shade and install wayfinding signs. These improvements invite people to linger, gather, and enjoy shared spaces—supporting both physical activity and social connection.
- Transportation: Small, thoughtful transportation projects can make a big difference. Community Challenge grants have supported safer crossings, improved walkability and bikeability around key destinations and the planning or installation of transit amenities like shelters and seating—especially important for older adults and people with mobility challenges.
- Housing and Community Support: Some projects focus on helping residents age in place by improving access to information about home modification resources or by testing neighborhood-level solutions that connect people to services. These efforts strengthen independence and peace of mind.
- Social Participation and Inclusion: Murals, community events and creative placemaking projects funded by AARP grants have sparked community pride and social connection. By involving residents in design and implementation, these projects foster respect, inclusion and a strong sense of belonging across generations.
- Communication, Civic Participation and Opportunity: From hosting community conversations to creating new tools for sharing local information, South Dakota communities are using grants to engage residents in shaping their future. These efforts elevate local voices and encourage ongoing civic participation.
Vermillion is a college town built around a historic Main Street with an urban feel. With the University of South Dakota just about a mile away, the stretch stands apart for its youthful energy and academic culture. Best explored on foot, Main Street pairs 19th-century brick storefronts with stops like Café Brulé and the nostalgic Coyote Twin Theater. Murals and sculptures add pops of color to the town center, including works from Mural on the Wall and the Mirrored Medicine Wheel. Below are some of the downtown’s best highlights.
Walkable, Accessible, And Student-Friendly
Since most of downtown Vermillion is centered on Main Street, the district is compact and pleasant to stroll. Better yet, walking here from the University of South Dakota only takes about 20 minutes, making it accessible for students without cars. In recent years, the Vermillion Downtown Streetscape project has also enhanced pedestrian accessibility and safety. By implementing ramps, wider sidewalks, and well-placed crosswalks, navigating downtown Vermillion is easier and safer than ever.
Parking In Downtown Vermillion
Alongside its pedestrian-friendly improvements, the Vermillion Downtown Streetscape project made sure to maintain ample parking. Main Street and the first blocks along its north and south side streets offer plenty of free parking for locals and visitors alike. Removing the hassle of parking meters, you can explore downtown Vermillion without stressful time constraints.
Charming Architecture
With many buildings built between 1880 and 1942, history cements downtown Vermillion. Main Street stands out for its historic facades, where brick storefronts tell a story. After a fire destroyed much of the street in the late 19th century, a town ordinance banned wood-frame buildings from the district, explaining the streetscape we see today.
Some main street structures predate the infamous fire, like the present-day Dakota Brick House restaurant. Other brick landmarks were rebuilt in accordance with the ordinance, like the Classical Revival-style Clay County Courthouse, constructed between 1912 and 1913. Coupled with old-fashioned lampposts and weave-patterned pavement inspired by Main Street’s brick buildings, downtown Vermillion is a living time capsule.
Cool Cafes And Shops
Like all the best college towns, Vermillion is fueled by caffeine, a cafe-culture haven. Main Street W houses cozy places like Café Brulé, which specializes in “comfort food, decadent desserts, and espresso coffee drinks with classic hospitality.” A few doors down, The Bean Community Coffeehouse is a favored spot for students, serving everything from sweet cream cold brews to Italian cream sodas.
If you grab a to-go order, shopping is a great follow-up. The stores in downtown Vermillion reflect its diverse population, with something for every budget and vibe. Cash-strapped students and retro enthusiasts are drawn to spots like the Civic Council Thrift Store, but you can also find clothing boutiques like Blue Monarch. For your next read or a new board game, Outside of a Dog Books & Games is another cute and welcoming store to hunt for a souvenir.
Public Art
As you continue strolling downtown, Vermillion’s award-winning outdoor art is impossible to miss. Since 2017, the Vermillion Community Mural Project (now Mural On the Wall) has decked out downtown with colorful and meaningful installations. The massive artworks depict Indigenous themes, elements of local culture, and messages of inclusion, including the “It Gets Better: Vermillion Pride” installation outside Café Brulé.
Vermillion is also known for its SculptureWalk, installed by the Vermillion Cultural Association. Much like the downtown murals, these 6 sculptures breathe life into the district, depicting themes like resilience and family, along with Indigenous culture. The Mirrored Medicine Wheel is a striking example, situated at the corner of Main Street and Elm. Bear in mind, 2026 marks a rotation for the Sculpture Walk, meaning locals and visitors can expect to see a new set of sculptures sometime in the spring.
Dining, Entertainment, And Nightlife
In the evening, downtown Vermillion sees no signs of slowing down. Foodies flock to Cee Cee’s 605 Scratch Kitchen & Bar for happy hour cocktails and made-from-scratch dishes, while Native-owned Dez From The Rez serves cultural comfort foods with a modern twist. Afterward, Main Street’s Coyote Twin Theater is a great follow-up for new film releases and freshly popped popcorn.
Once night falls, Vermillion’s bar scene keeps downtown alive. On Main Street, Carey’s Bar has served locals and students since 1954. Nearby, the Main Street Pub is favored for its classic bar bites, while XIX (19) Brewing Company specializes in good beer, good company, and themed trivia nights.
Explore Towns Near Vermillion
There are countless cool towns to explore near Vermillion if you want to keep the good times rolling. 30 minutes southeast, North Sioux City offers an eclectic range of entertainment. During the day, visitors can enjoy NASCAR races at the Park Jefferson Speedway. Later, evening calls for gaming on “The Strip,” a two-block gambling district with spots like Beano & Sherry’s Casinos.
For outdoor fun, the town of Beresford is a gateway to Union Grove State Park. A 20-minute drive from Vermillion, Union Grove is home to serene tree-studded hillsides, making it a popular place to picnic, hike, or spend a night under the stars. Alternatively, 30 minutes west of Vermillion, Yankton is a blend of both towns. At Riverside Park, visitors can stroll, fish, and picnic along the Missouri River. Further inland, Broadway Ave is dotted with casinos like the South Point Gaming Lounge.
A Day In Downtown Vermillion
While it’s helpful to have an itinerary, exploring downtown Vermillion can be even better with a bit of curiosity and spontaneity. Tucked in between its top bars, murals, and cafes, you could find a hidden hangout locals love or a piece of public art not detailed online. That being said, Vermillion’s top-frequented restaurants and shops are popular for good reason, so don’t be afraid to follow the crowds. No matter where you start, go, and end, this South Dakota downtown is an absolute joy to walk through.
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